Berra poised for Wolves bow

Much will be expected of the £2million signing from Hearts, as he arrives to plug gaps in a defence wobbling after conceding three sloppy goals in Tuesday's 3-3 draw against Norwich.

But the Scotland international is relishing the challenge as he prepares for a possible Wolves debut at Coventry – even if he may not be showing his true form until April!

He said: "I don't want to build myself up, I'll wait for people to make their own minds up after five or 10 games. Judge me then.

"There's always pressure on a new signing coming into a new club, because of the expectation. It may take five or 10 games for me to settle right in, but I'm looking forward to it.

"I'm looking forward to the chance to play, so I can impress the fans but I know I first have to work hard to impress the manager."

Boss Mick McCarthy warned last week that Berra will be judged quickly by the Molineux faithful.

But the 24-year-old, who has watched the last two games from the stands, is confident of making the right impression.

He said: "A lot of people say the fans are testy here and get on your back, but I had the same at Hearts. It's the same at a lot of clubs.

"Everyone has their opinions but hopefully we can give the fans what they want and then they will be happy."

Berra is excited about his move and believes the pressure is on Wolves' rivals to catch them, rather than the other way around.

He said: "Teams have got to catch us now and it's not an easy job. The other teams would rather be in our position. If we drop points there will be a lot of flak but we've got to be man enough and show enough character to deal with it.

"There are 15 games left and they're all high pressure ones, but we're top of the table. Teams are raising their game to try and catch us but I think if the team keeps up the standards set before we should be there."

Should Berra play tomorrow, he will form part of the 15th different back four McCarthy has played played this season. But after many changes at turbulent Hearts over the last few years, Berra isn't fazed by playing alongside unfamiliar faces.

Ironically he will find a kindred spirit in the opposition at the Ricoh Arena, with Coventry new boy and likely debutant James McPake also a Scottish centre-half, having signed from Livingston.

Berra said: "At Hearts I played centre-half for a long time and played with numerous players on my left and right side because there were a lot of selection problems, so I'm used to having new players around me.

"I've also played for Scotland with different players so hopefully I can adapt quickly to my surroundings."

Helping him adapt are two familiar faces in Chris Iwelumo and Neill Collins.

Berra said: "I know Chris and Neill. I knew Chris from seeing him five or six times with Scotland and I used to play with Neill Collins in the under-21s as well.

"Neill is not shy but they're all young lads and good fun. There's no big egos and everyone gets along. There's a great team spirit and a balance in the squad."

As befits his very Gallic sounding names, Edinburgh-born and bred Berra is half-French, half-Scottish.

He said: "My dad Christian was born in France but moved to Scotland when he was in his early 20s, and my mum Josephine is Scottish.

"But France didn't come calling and Scotland came first!"

Wolves found out how challenging the SPL can be with highly competitive 'friendlies' against Motherwell and Kilmarnock last summer.

Suggestions of how physically and mentally demanding the Championship is brings a defiance from 6ft 3ins Berra, after five years as a regular in the SPL.

He said: "There are a lot of physical games in the Championship but there are in Scotland too. The Old Firms games are more technical because there are a lot of good players of international calibre.

"But games like Inverness and St Mirren are physical – there a lot of long balls. I've played against physical players before and although I haven't played here before, hopefully I should be able to adapt.

"I think anyone can beat anyone on their day – top can beat bottom – so you have to be on top of your game."

Despite being just 24, Berra arrives as one of the more experienced players at Wolves and, after two years as Hearts captain, believes he can offer leadership qualities.

He said: "There were a lot of problems at Hearts and a lot of hard times. But I think being captain made me a stronger character and a better person, so hopefully that makes me a bit more set.

"I'm vocal and try to do the best for the team and for myself and I try to drive the team on sometimes. It's a very young squad here and I'm probably one of the oldest ones and yet I've only just turned 24.

"There are some real good characters in the squad and they're all trying to do one thing - get better individually and get Wolves into the Premier League.